[Brian's POV]
White hair, green eyes, a black cloak, and most importantly... a black mask identical to those worn by the Performers of The Masquerade.
Was he a member of that Heretic group?
"I recognize that mask! You are one of those Heretics—The Masquerade!" I declared loudly. "What do you want!? You're lucky the city is in danger right now. If it weren't, I would kill you here and now to avenge my Mentor's death!"
Hearing my words, the man showed no emotion. He simply turned his attention toward the Dragon that was currently slaughtering the soldiers.
"Look at that scene. If we don't do something, everyone will die," the man said calmly. "There will be tens of thousands of human corpses by the time the Holy Knights and Grand Espadas arrive."
"And what does that have to do with you, murderer!?" I pointed my sword at him. "Your group is nothing but a pack of criminals who care nothing for human life, interested only in your own twisted goals!"
The man looked back at me. For some reason, his demeanor felt incredibly familiar. Could I have met him somewhere before?
"I can help you stop that Dragon, but on one condition," he said casually. "Promise that all of you will not attack me after this fight ends."
I stood there, speechless at his offer. I had no authority to make such a pact. However, if he truly intended to help...
"Brian! What are you doing just standing up there!?"
I heard someone calling from the side. A woman in armor leaped up to the rooftop to join me.
"Brian, we need to ret—" Her words cut off as she noticed the masked man standing before me. "That mask... You're a member of The Masquerade... What are you doing here!?"
I quickly explained the man's offer to Inquisitor Elvira. she fell silent, weighing my words before turning her gaze back to the stranger.
"Fine. We agree to your terms," Inquisitor Elvira said, drawing a small knife and pressing it against her palm. "Shall we seal this with a Blood Pact?"
A Blood Pact—a magically binding ritual where the violator is killed instantly. It was a common method used to secure high-stakes contracts or vital agreements.
However, the man did not respond to Elvira's gesture.
"What's wrong? I thought you wanted to bind this agreement with a Blood Pact?" the Inquisitor asked.
"I do, but I have no intention of performing the ritual with you," the masked man replied, his gaze shifting to me. "I want to make the Blood Pact with him."
Huh? Was there a difference if he performed the ritual with me instead of Inquisitor Elvira? I noticed the Inquisitor's expression shift; she looked hesitant.
"What is it? Did you not expect your scheme to be uncovered?" the man asked.
What did he mean by a scheme?
"You intended to sacrifice your life and break the agreement once the battle ended, didn't you?" the masked man said casually. "The life of a single Inquisitor is a small price to pay to kill or capture a Performer."
Is that it? The Inquisitor didn't intend to keep the deal and planned to attack him when the fight was over. But why was she hesitant about him making the ritual with me? I wasn't afraid of death if it was for the sake of the people!
"You are a special, Brian," the masked man said. "That is why your superior doesn't want you to be the sacrificial lamb used to catch me."
"Set that aside for now! We have to stop that monster immediately!" I shouted. "I will make the Blood Pact with you! Please, help us stop that Dragon from slaughtering the citizens!"
Inquisitor Elvira tried to stop me, but I gave her a sharp look, signaling my resolve.
"Very well." The man approached me and drew a knife.
He cut his palm, and I did the same with my sword. We shook hands, mingling our blood. The masked man then began to mutter an incantation. Shortly after, a crimson magic circle surrounded us. This was the first time I had ever witnessed or participated in a Blood Pact.
"I—swear to assist the Inquisitors and the Imperial mages in stopping that Dragon, with no intention of harming the innocent," the man declared.
"I—Brian—swear that I will not allow anyone from the security forces to harm you immediately after the Dragon is stopped."
— Swiiingg!
As our oaths were spoken, a Rune appeared on both our hands, signaling that the magic seal was active.
— Groooarrrr!
The monster's roar echoed from the distance. The wingless dragon was breathing fire from its massive maw toward the soldiers currently engaged in combat.
"We have to join the battle, quickly!" I said, activating my Acceleration magic.
"I'll be watching you, Heretic!" Inquisitor Elvira said, glaring at the masked man.
The man offered no reply and simply followed us.
Back on the battlefield, the mages were visibly exhausted, and the Knights and Inquisitors looked hopeless, unsure of how to stop the dragon's rampage.
"Elvira! What is the meaning of this!? Why is a Heretic with you!?" one of the Inquisitors demanded.
Elvira and I explained the situation. Though the Inquisitors and mages looked displeased, they had no choice but to accept.
"We don't need help from our enemies, Elvira!" one Inquisitor shouted.
"What will happen when people find out we were aided by a Heretic in handling a monster attack!?"
A heated argument broke out. Some Inquisitors were willing to accept the masked man's help, while others were staunchly opposed. I could only stand by and watch them bicker; as a mere Squire, I had no influence.
"Everyone, listen to me."
The crowd fell silent at the sound of that calm yet bone-chillingly cold voice. We all turned our attention to the masked man. His gaze was stern, signaling that he would not tolerate interruptions.
"None of your magic or attacks have left so much as a scratch on that dragon," the masked man said calmly. "Do you know why?"
What he said was true. Our problem was that we had no idea how to stop it. Our strongest attacks were useless.
"Look at the scales on that dragon." The masked man pointed toward the beast, which was currently torching buildings. "The scales covering its body possess high magic resistance and physical defense. Only attack from Archwizard, Holy Knight and Grand Espada can penetrate them."
I see... It seemed the Dragon had a special physical trait. It appeared all Magical Beasts possessed unique abilities that set them apart.
"Then how do we stop it if it's immune to our attacks!?" one of the mages asked.
"There is only one part of the Dragon's body not covered by those special scales: the eyes," the masked man answered. "However, targeting the eyes is difficult and requires high magical accuracy. After seeing your performance so far, none of you possess the specialized technique for long-range magic shots with that kind of precision."
Hearing this, the mages looked indignant, insulted that their combat skills were being belittled by a Heretic.
"Because of this, we are left with only one way to defeat the Dragon: by launching an attack directly into its mouth while it is breathing fire," the masked man explained. "Brian, you will gather as much mana as possible to fire a powerful magical wave into the dragon's maw."
Wait, how does he know my name? Ah... did he learn it during the Blood Pact ritual?
"A few Inquisitors and I will keep the dragon busy until you are ready, understood? And shape your magical wave like a comet streaking across the sky," he added.
The masked man then looked at the mages.
"Once Brian's gathered mana becomes significant, the Dragon will notice and attempt to attack him. Your task is to briefly restrict the Dragon's movement with earth magic so that the only way it can stop Brian is by firing a breath attack from its mouth."
"Wait, who's going to stop the fire? I'll be roasted alive if no one protects me!?" I asked.
"Don't worry, I will handle the fire breath," the man replied before looking at everyone again. "Execute this plan perfectly. If you fail, every citizen in this city will be slaughtered! Now, go and perform your duties!"
At his command, the mages, knights, and Inquisitors dispersed to their positions. It was a bizarre sight: a Heretic giving orders to Imperial Knights and Inquisitors, the very people tasked with eradicating his kind.
I leaped to the highest building in the area while the Inquisitors and the masked man began distracting the Dragon to keep it away from the civilians. Gripping my sword with both hands, I began to gather every bit of mana I could muster.
"Watch the tail! Don't overcommit! Our only job is to buy time!" the masked man commanded the Knights.
— Groooarrr!
The Dragon was enraged. The masked man was currently standing right on the giant monster's snout. The beast thrashed its neck, trying to dislodge him, but he held on. His sword began to glow; he leaped and plunged the blade into the Dragon's eye.
"Aaaghhhh! I will burn you to ash, Human!"
The Dragon shrieked in fury. The man muttered something.
— Bombb!
Suddenly, the eye pierced by the masked man's blade exploded, making the giant monster scream in agony. The Dragon slammed its head into nearby buildings, forcing the masked man to jump clear to avoid the impact.
My hands began to shake. The mana concentrated in my sword was immense, but I needed more.
— Grooarrrr!
The Dragon roared, one eye shut tight as blood flowed down its face. The man was right—its eyes were vulnerable because they weren't shielded by those reinforced scales!
The masked man leaped up to the rooftop where I was standing.
"Brian, are you ready?" he asked.
"I've gathered as much as I can," I replied confidently.
"Good. When the Dragon breathes fire, we will jump and align ourselves with its head," he instructed.
— Groooarrrr!
The Dragon roared again, its gaze locked onto the two of us. It was clearly incensed at the man who had blinded it. The monster began to march toward us.
"Now, mages!"
At the masked man's signal, the mages activated earth magic, causing the ground beneath the Dragon to sink, forcing the massive creature to jump if it wanted to escape. The Dragon opened its maw, the orange glow within signaling an impending fire breath.
My heart was pounding. This was the decisive moment. If I failed here, the lives of the citizens were the price. Their deaths would be my lifelong regret if I couldn't take this beast down.
— GROOOARRRRR!
The Dragon unleashed a gargantuan torrent of flame toward us. I and the masked man leaped with Axio magic to evade the initial blast. However, the Dragon slowly raised its chin, the stream of fire chasing us through the air.
My legs felt scorched, my breathing was erratic, and sweat soaked my body as if I were submerged in the sea. We aligned ourselves with the dragon's head and began to fall through the air.
The Dragon looked up and fired another burst of flame into the sky to incinerate us. But the masked man beneath me suddenly muttered a spell and stretched his hands downward.
"Mirror Force!"
A barrier manifested in front of his palms, shielding us from the inferno.
"Now, Brian!" he commanded.
The Dragon's mouth remained wide open after the fire breath concluded. I took a deep breath and swung my sword, releasing the massive build-up of mana directly into the beast's throat.
"IN—CURSIOOOO!"
A colossal wave of magical energy streaked toward the Dragon's maw like a comet.
— BOMMBBBB!
An explosion erupted as the magical wave entered the Dragon's body. The shockwave sent the masked man and me tumbling into a nearby building. I looked toward the blast; a fierce wind blew, and a giant mushroom cloud of smoke rose from the site of my magic.
A few moments later, a heavy silence fell. I couldn't see the state of the Dragon yet due to the thick shroud of smoke. Gradually, the haze dissipated, revealing the Dragon's body shattered into fragments scattered across the area.
"Is this real?" one soldier whispered.
"Did we really do it?"
No one could believe their eyes. The giant creature they had struggled against, which hadn't taken a single wound, was now in pieces.
"We won!"
"We won!"
Cheers of joy from the soldiers and mages echoed through the city. Their sacrifices and efforts had finally paid off. Some even wept, calling out the names of comrades who had fallen in the struggle.
"Brian! Brian! Brian!"
Suddenly, several Inquisitors rushed over and began tossing me into the air, shouting my name.
"That magic you used was incredible!"
"How could you produce something so powerful!?"
Hearing praise from veteran Knights and Inquisitors made me swell with pride. I had done it... I had protected everyone and defeated the monster threatening the city.
— Wossshh!
Suddenly, a fierce wind gusted through the area. We all turned toward the shattered remains of the Dragon. The fragments of the beast began to converge, merging into a four-meter-tall humanoid figure.
The body was human-like, yet covered in the same black scales as the dragon. A snout-like mouth appeared on its chest, moving as if it had a life of its own. Its swaying tail looked like a dancing serpent.
What kind of creature was this that had been born from the Dragon's remains?
"Ahhh... I didn't expect weak humans like you to force me into my humanoid form."
Wait, it can speak the human tongue? Was this a humanoid version of the Dragon we just fought?
"But, it's time to stop playing around," the figure said, beginning to approach us.
The Knights and Mages were struck with disbelief once again. The enemy they thought they had destroyed was standing before them, reborn.
— !
Suddenly, the humanoid figure appeared right in front of me.
"First, I will kill you!"
He launched a punch at my face, which I barely managed to block with both hands. The force sent me hurtling into a building wall. My head throbbed, my vision blurred, and my entire body screamed in pain.
Struggling to rise, I saw the humanoid figure absolutely decimating the soldiers who tried to attack it.
"His strength is beyond reason..."
Activating Acceleration, I lunged at the creature as it was about to strike a Knight.
"Raging Blade!"
I launched a horizontal slash, but my sword met only air.
"Humans are indeed slow and weak."
I heard a voice behind me. As I turned, a blinding pain exploded in my ribs. The creature kicked me so hard my body slammed into the ground.
"Die, you bastard!"
"Fire Ball!"
The others resumed their attack, but every spell and blade failed to leave a mark on the creature's body. It continued its slaughter. I tried to stand, but my body collapsed again. I had reached my limit. My limbs felt like lead.
"It's over, this monster can't be stopped!"
"I'd rather return to my family than die in this hopeless battle!"
Many Knights dropped their swords in despair, and mages fell to their knees, their mana nearly depleted. Was this the end?
"Time to die, boy!" the creature shouted, charging toward me.
I closed my eyes...
Was I going to die here? What could I do? My strength wasn't enough to defeat this monster. Damn it...
— Bammmm!
A heavy thud echoed. But I didn't feel the impact. Opening my eyes, I saw the back of a white-haired man, his black cloak fluttering in the wind.
He... had stopped the creature's attack with his bare hands.
The masked man launched a thrust toward the creature's eye, forcing it to jump back and keep its distance.
"Do not lose hope, Knights of Aragon... Inquisitors of Goddess Diana..." the man said flatly. "Have you forgotten? The oath you swore when you were knighted for this kingdom?"
A Knight's Oath? I had just discussed this with Elvira this morning.
"The oath first spoken by the Legendary Hero—Pendragon—and sworn by every aspiring guardian of this land ever since!"
The masked man's voice grew louder, echoing in my ears. For some reason, his words sent shivers down my spine.
"Do I need to remind you of the oath you swore!?" he shouted.
"I swear! To keep this land from the dangers that threaten it! I swear! To always protect what is right and shun what is evil!" His voice was powerful and commanding. "I swear! To always protect the citizens from monsters and demons who wish to destroy humanity!"
The knights clenched their fists, standing up once more and raising their heads with pride.
"This sword is my witness, and if I break my oath, then may disaster strike this land! For this, I will keep fighting, I will never give up until my last breath... I will protect this land!"
— Woooshhh!
As soon as the masked man finished reciting the Knight's Oath, a blinding light appeared before him. Small particles converged at the center of the glow, merging into the shape of a sword. A moment later, the light vanished, revealing a golden blade inscribed with runes.
"There's no mistake... That is the Holy Sword, Excalibur!" a Knight exclaimed.
"How can a Heretic summon the holy sword that has always been used by the Heroes!?"
I had the same question. I was confused—all the Knights were confused. But then I remembered what the Inquisitor told me this morning at the museum:
'The Holy Sword Excalibur will reappear when the Hero recites the Knight's Oath.'
But I am the chosen Hero! Master Pendragon himself told me because I possess the Pendragon Codex that every previous Hero had.
How could a Heretic summon this Holy Sword!?